Japan Consumption Tax

Sell to Japan without the tax headache – leave the consumption tax to us

Japan

Currency	Japanese Yen (JPY, ¥)
Languages	Japanese, Ainu
Largest Marketplace	Rakuten.co.jp / Amazon.co.jp
Most Popular Product Category	Home Appliances and Electronics
Tax Authority	The National Tax Agency
Consumption Tax Rates	Standard – 10%
	Reduced – 8%

Does Japan Have Sales Tax?

In Japan, the sales tax is called “consumption tax”. Since 2019 the standard consumption tax rate in Japan has been 10%. You might need to register for consumption tax in Japan if you're selling your products there (or planning to).

Find out more on this page or book a free, 15 minute consultation with one of our experts. They'll let you know if you need to register for anything.

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JApan spent ¥441 billion on international brands in 2024

Japan Sales Tax for International Brands

Japanese consumers are used to buying for international sellers. They’re actively looking for the latest fashion and tech from abroad.

If you’ve got a unique, high-quality product, Japan could be the perfect market for you.

Match your product with our consumption tax support – we’re known for our high standard of customer service.

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Do You Need to Register for Sales Tax in Japan?

In Japan, Consumption Tax has a threshold, so you’ll only need to register once you cross it.
You can even store your inventory in Japan without a registration (until you cross the threshold).

You’ll need to register for Consumption Tax in Japan if any of these apply to you:

Your annual sales two years ago were over ¥10 million

That year is called the “Base Period”. For example, if your annual sales in 2025 hit ¥10 million, you’ll need to register for consumption tax in 2027.

Your sales or payroll in the first six months of last year were over
¥10 million

This is called the “Specified Period”. For example, your sales from January to June 2026 reached ¥10 million, so you’ll need to register for consumption tax in Japan in 2027.

Your company’s paid-in capital at incorporation was ¥10 million or more

You’ll need to register immediately. This threshold doesn’t include turnover, assets or retained earnings. It’s only the legal capital contributed by investors.

You can also choose to register voluntarily in Japan, which would enable you to issue qualified invoices. Some of your customers might require them, like B2B sales, for example.

Whether you’ve crossed a threshold or need to register so you can issue qualified invoices, we can help. Book a call with a member of our team to get started.

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Trust is key to converting browsers into buyers, especially in Japan. Japanese consumers are often cautious and will research before making a purchase. Mastering Consumption Tax is so important, as getting it wrong will scare off potential customers.
Ncumisa Socikwa, Business Development Manager

Selling on Amazon Japan

Ecommerce in Japan is marketplace centric – a lot of shoppers make their purchases on marketplaces like Amazon Japan and Rakuten. That gives you a great place to get started in Japan, especially if you’re already selling on Amazon.

Platform taxation has been in effect in Japan since April 1st, 2025. You might not need to register for Consumption Tax if you sell on Amazon Japan. Tell us about what you’re selling and to who, and we’ll let you know for sure.

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